Preparation and Numerical Simulation of Heat Transfer Performance for Methyl Palmitate /Expanded Graphite Phase Change Composite

Abstract:

Methyl palmitate (MP) is a promising phase change energy storage material. It features high latent heat, suitable phase change temperature, low degree of supercooling and so on. However, like other organic phase change materials, the common problem of lower thermal conductivity makes it unable to perform better in energy storage. Expanded graphite (EG) has been proven to be high-efficiency for enhancing the thermal conductivity of organic phase change materials. MP/EG phase change composite was prepared and characterized in this research, and the heat transfer performance was numerical simulated by finite element analysis software ABAQUS. Results show that MP can be absorbed into the layered pores of EG, and the stable absorption ratio is 77%. Numerical simulation results reveal that EG can significantly enhance the heat transfer performance of MP. Moreover, EG can decrease the system temperature gradient during phase change process that makes the heat transfer and temperature distribution more uniform.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 834)
• Pages: 132-138
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.834.132
• Online since: March 2020
• Authors: Bi Chuan Chi*, Yan Yao, Su Ping Cui
• Keywords: Expanded Graphite, Heat Transfer, Methyl Palmitate, Numerical Simulation, Phase Change Material

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